The Administrative Fee is a $5 monthly charge added to eligible residential utility accounts that receive City of Houston curbside solid waste collection. The fee became effective July 1, 2026, and first appears as a separate line item on August 2026 utility bills. The fee provides dedicated funding to strengthen the City's solid waste collection system through long-term investments in fleet, staffing, and service reliability.

The Administrative Fee will support long-term investments in fleet, staffing and service reliability for City of Houston solid waste collection. Improvements already underway include adding new collection trucks, strengthening curbside collection reliability and addressing pending 311 service requests.

You will be charged the $5 monthly Administrative Fee if your household receives City of Houston curbside solid waste collection. Households that use a private trash provider will not be charged the fee. Because some Houston households receive trash collection through private providers rather than the City, not every household will be charged the fee.

Search your address using the Find Your Schedule tool on the City of Houston website or the HTX Collects mobile app to view your collection schedule and service information. You can also call 311 or 713-837-0311 for assistance 24 hours a day.

It depends on the property’s collection provider. The Administrative Fee applies to residential properties that receive City of Houston curbside solid waste collection. This includes single-family homes and eligible small multi-unit properties, such as duplexes, townhomes, condominiums, mobile or manufactured homes and apartment buildings with eight or fewer units.

Apartment complexes and businesses that use private trash collection are not charged the fee.

No, the Administrative Fee is separate from the existing $1.29 Container Lease Fee. Customers who receive City curbside collection will see both charges on their utility bill beginning in August 2026.

The Administrative Fee will first appear on eligible utility bills issued in August 2026.

You will see two line items: a $4.62 “Solid Waste Admin Fee” and $0.38 in associated sales tax, for a total monthly charge of $5.

The Administrative Fee will remain $5 per month unless City Council approves a change.

If you receive City of Houston curbside solid waste collection but your water is billed by another utility, the Administrative Fee will be included in your annual Solid Waste Management-only bill issued each August.

Call 311 or 713-837-0311 for assistance and to request a review. Be prepared to provide your service address and utility account information, if available.

Financial assistance may be available to eligible seniors, low-income households and residents with disabilities. Assistance can be applied toward the utility bill, including drinking water, wastewater bills and the administrative fee charges.

Call 311 (713-837-0311) or visit the Utility Billing website for application forms, eligibility requirements and more information.

For live assistance, call 311. If you are outside of Houston, or unable to dial 311, call 713-837-0311.